Apparatus for automatic opening and closing of sewer inlets



Dec.-9, 1930. o. RocAs APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC OPENING AND CLOSING OF SEWER INLETS 3 Sheets-Sheet Zsnventor,

Dec. 9, 1930. o. RoAs 1,784,076

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC OPENING AND CLOSING OF SEWER INLETS Filed Aug. 14, 1929 5 Sheets sheet 2 &\ f

Dec. 9, 1930. o. ROCAS 1,784,076

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC OPENING AND CLOSING 0F SEWER INLETS Filed-Aug. 14, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 attorney Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orricuv onLANnonocAs, or 310 m. .T uEmo, emu.

ArrAnA'rus'ron AU'romA'rIc ormtme AND CLOSING or snw'nn IuLETs Application filed August 14, 1929, Serial a... 385,784, and in Brazil August as, 1928.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic opening and closing of sewer inlets and proposes a'construction which may be readily used-with-any sewer system to pro- 6 vide a. sanitary closure effective to prevent the vide a structure completely closed when not a receiving infiowing material and includes inherent means serving as a barrier and deflector to direct and-concentrate the inflow of material under normal operative conditions. Other objects will appear-as the description proceeds An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Y Fig. 1 is a transverse sectionalview of a simplified form of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a planview 0 Fig. 3 andFig. 3a are views, partly in section, of the apparatus arranged in the bottom of the sewer inlet; V a Fig. 4 and Fig. 4aare views, partly in section, of the apparatus arranged inthe'middle of a reinforced concrete slab, in the center ofgthe sewer inlet;

Fig. 5zis a transverse and longitudinal section of the complete a aratus; and

Fig. 6 a plan view 0 51a complete apparatus with the upper cover of the chamber omitted.

The apparatus, which may be simple or com site, is made of any suitable material, pref i' abl cast iron. The apparatus consists of the fol owin parts Referring to 1g. 1, which may assume any convenient or desired form, such as a. circular, rectangular, quadrangular or other form,

the said apparatus;

variously dimensioned according to the size of the sewer hole to which it is to be'applied, the numeral 1 designates the casing wall. The wall 1' is provided at its upper edge with outwardly projecting flanges 2 and inwardly ,55 projecting anges 3, with a trunnion bearing on either side to swingably support the trunnions 5 of lid 4. The two openings or mouths of wall 1 inthe circularly shaped apparatus are also circularly shaped, and are flattened at the edges. In the other types of apparatus the mouths are shaped accordingly to the shape of the apparatus.

A lid 4, shaped according to the type of apparatus with which it is to be used, is provided with an axle which divides the lid into two portions, namely, the forward free portion or lid proper, intended to receive the material to be drained, and a rear portion provided at its under face with a counterpoise 6 7 of suflicient weight to maintain the forward free portion, or lid proper, when unloaded always in contact with the projecting flanges 3 of the-casing wall 1. The rear portion is provided at its upper end with a boss 8 which 7 serves as a stop or rest for said rear portion.

The numeral 7 designates a chamber, having a'plane vertical wall at its forward portion and a curved rear portion, and terminating'at its lateral and rearward portions by projectin flanges intended to rest against the outward y projecting flanges 2 of wall 1, Fig. 1, to which said flanges are secured by means of bolts ,or the like, so as to form with they rear portion of wall. 1, a closed box or chamber wherein the counterpoise 6 of lid 4 is adapted to swing. This box-like structure 7 is provided at its upper front face with inclined flanges 9 intended to deflect the material to be drained, thrown from above, on to the surface of lid 4.

A? grating 10 made up of one or more parts, of various shapes and dimensions according to the opening or mouth of the apparatus to which it is to be' applied, semi-circular or U- shaped, quadrangular, rectangular {or of other shape, is intended to be secured in a vertical positionbut being also capable of operating in a horizontal position and intended to beattached to the flanges'of casing wall 1, .is

' applied.

Figs. 5 and 6, by means of pins, bolts or any other convenient means.

The addition of the grating to the simplified form or assemblage, constitutes the composite apparatus. The operation of the simple type of apparatus is identical to the operation of the composite type of apparatus. From the above description of the apparatus as made up of its separate parts, the operation of the apparatus when adapted to the sewer line hole or inlet will be easily understood. The water or any other material to be drained, upon reaching the free portion of the lid 4, Fig. 1, forces this lid to swing downward, with suiiicient load for this purpose, and throws the material to be drained into the sewer line. As'soon as the material to be drained is thrown into the sewer line, the lid comes back to its normal horizontal position by virtue of the aotionof the counterpoise. In'this position of the lid, the sewer line hole will be closed, as said lid at, Fig. 1, will be in contact with the flanges 3 of wall 1, thus preventing the escape of mosquitoes and vermin fronrthe-sewer line.

In the case of clean water, the operationof the simple type of apparatus will be-satisfactory. In the case ofdirt-y water,'such asis ordinarily the case with city street water, it becomes necessary to use the composite type of apparatus, Fig. 5. The grating 10 having relatively narrow passages, prevents the passage of foreign matter, allowing the water to pass through. The operationofthe apparatus having been explained, I shall now sewer hole, as shown in Fig. 3. In this case it is sufficient to apply the apparatus to the mouth ofthe pipe, with a small quantity of cementing-material. It is desirable that the bottom of the sewer hole be slightly inclined convergently to the apparatus. lVhenthe sewer pipe comes out, not from the bottom, but from one of the lateral faces, as shown in Fig. 4, that is, in a horizontal direction, it becomes necessary to resort to some means or device which will permit arranging the apparatus horizontally. In such case it will be suflicient to resort to a reinforced concrete slab or the like, supported at the two ends, Fig. '4, having at-the center an opening or mouth according to the shape of the apparatus, whereto the'latter will be It would be possible also to arrange the apparatus vertically, but thisis not to be recommended, as it'reducesthe efliciency of the apparatus.

When suitably applied, either at the bottom of the sewer hole, Fig. 3, or on a concrete slab at the center of'thehole, Fig. 4:, the apparatus constitutes a reliable "safeguard against mosquitoes, miceandthe like. It isa-k'nownfact that the underground sewer lines constitute an ideal place for the propagation of mosquitoes, and a place especially sought for by mice and the like. The apparatus, however, offers a sewer clo sure which mosquitoes, mice and the like cannot pass from the inside to the outside. The process and apparatus of the invention have given the most satisfactory results inthe sanitary campaign against the mosquitoes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In this connection, it is of interest to point out that the use of various apparatus in the sewer lines, as well as the use of petroleum, have been dispensed with, with consequent remarkable economy.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing open at its top and including Walls, formed along the upperedge with an outwardly extending flange and having a portion of one edge provided with an inwardly extending flange; a covered portion having a vertical front wall and a curved rear wall terminating at its bottom edge'with an outwardly extending flange adapted to rest upon the corresponding flange of said wall and forming therewith a closed safety chamber, said chamber having its upper and forward edge formed with a deflecting lip,

a closure consisting of a flat lid and acounterpoise; and trunnions for said closure and bearings in the casing wall to support said trunnions for swinging movement of said lid inwardly by the weight of in'fiowing ma terial.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a casing open at its top and having an outwardly extending flange and an inwardly extending flange; a covered portion having a vertical front wall and a g DR. ORLANDO Boone. 

